Billericay defeat the leaders on an afternoon of close encounters

Leaders Folkestone Invicta faced what appeared to be a tricky trip as they headed to fifth place Billericay Town- and just how tricky was proved when the Blues went ahead on twenty minutes, Elliott Long opening the scoring. The visitors fought hard without success, and two minutes from time they were reduced to ten men, Liam Smith sent off. 

That was Invicta’s first defeat in eight, Billericay’s eighth win from nine. Image from Nicky Hayes.

Second place Aveley, who were defeated at Cheshunt in midweek, tried to put that quickly behind them as they travelled to Ramsgate for a match which kicked off at 5.30 PM. The Rams were seven unbeaten, with six wins- and Aveley had an identical seven match record before the Ambers got in the way. 

The match reached half time without a goal, but the hosts went ahead early in the second half, Solomon Ogunwomoju the scorer. Just after the hour the visitors levelled through Anthony Church, and that was how it ended. Aveley are twelve points behind the leaders, the Rams slip to ninth. 

Third place Brentwood Town travelled to Wingate and Finchley. Town had won three of their previous four and looked impressive in hammering Whitehawk last weekend, whilst Wingate were hoping that two wins from three meant that they had put their rough patch behind them and could pull away from danger. The last time they met, Brentwood were in superb form- so it was something of a surprise when the North Londoners left the Arena with a five-nil win, and it was perhaps a surprise for the travelling faithful when Wingate went ahead once more, Loic Hernandez scoring on thirteen minutes. Louie Johnson drew the travelling Blues- although they were in orange- eleven minutes later, and they were quickly ahead, Bradley Sach completing the turnaround. What they had, they held on to, and stay third- increasing the gap between themselves and fourth place to seven points. 

Chatham Town, in fourth, had been rather inconsistent, and indeed had one win from six. They travelled to the Sussex seaside to take on Whitehawk, the Hawks quickly bouncing back from defeat last Saturday to take three points from Lewes in midweek. The hosts had only one defeat from nine, and they were playing against ten men after twenty five minutes, Jordy Robins seeing red for the Chats, but they couldn’t capitalise, neither side managing a goal. 

Sixth place Cray Wanderers had an all-Amber battle as the Ambers of Cheshunt headed to Flamingo Park, the two sides leading the way in terms of draws both hoping for three points instead of one. Wands took the lead on seventeen minutes, Max Fiddes with the opener, and it was quickly two-nil, Alex Hernandez scoring the second from the spot. Five minutes from time the visitors got back into the match, Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite giving them hope, but it was hope which was to remain unfulfilled, Wands holding on for three points. They stay sixth, two points away from the top five. 

Dartford travelled for a derby match against Welling United. The Darts had slipped to seventh after winning only one of their previous four, whilst Welling ended a five match winless streak with a midweek victory, and started the weekend four points from safety. Dartford won three-one when last they met, but it didn’t look like anyone would win this one, until late drama- a goal five minutes into added time. It went to the Darts, and to Rohan Vaughan- and the Darts remain seventh, yet only three points away from the top five. 

Burgess Hill Town were on the road to Canvey Island. The Hillians got back to winning ways after two defeats last weekend, beating Wingate and Finchley, whilst the hosting Gulls had lost their previous two and started the weekend bottom of the table and seven points from safety. Canvey were looking to complete a double after a two-nil victory in Mid Sussex, but they handed an advantage to the Hillians eleven minutes from the end, Kenedi Dariri sent off. Could the visitors take advantage? They could. Two minutes into added time, penalty, George Vorster, three points. 

St Albans City travelled to Hashtag United looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. The Saints won against Billericay Town last weekend and looked good in doing so, and hoped to ruin the day for a Tags side who have lost four of their previous five. The opening goal went to the Saints on the half hour, Leo Sery scoring for the sixteenth time this season, but the Tags were level eight minutes into the second half- and so far as we know, the visitors scored that one too, albeit at the wrong end. Sery struck again eight minutes from time to restore the Saints advantage, this one from the spot, and they held on for victory. The Tags are three points above the drop zone. 

Dulwich Hamlet hoped to build upon their previous two matches- both wins- as they played host to Chichester City. Hamlet had never managed to previously defeat City, but they started very well, Nyren Clunis opening the scoring on four minutes. Danny Mills added a second twenty two minutes from time, delighting most of the incredible crowd of three thousand, one hundred and thirty two who were watching on- but they’ll have been less delighted when City quickly got one back courtesy of Jimmy Wild. Soon, however, it was three-one, Sol Baugh bringing relief to the home fans, and their side climbs to eleventh. 

Lewes started the day ten points above the drop zone but had taken only one point from their previous five matches, so were quite keen to improve upon that as they hosted fourth bottom Cray Valley PM. The Millers were only a point from safety but were without a win since December 13th- ten matches, but they went ahead in this one eight minutes from time, Makise Evans scoring what proved to be the only goal. It lifted Cray Valley out of the bottom four. 

Finally, we had a crucial match as Potters Bar Town played host to Carshalton Athletic, twenty first versus eighteenth. The Scholars started the weekend six points from safety- or, to put it another way, six points away from their opponents- and had one win from five, whilst Athletic were without a win since mid November- fifteen matches. It started well for the hosts, Damaray Anyadike opening the scoring after three minutes, and it got better when Brandon Adams made it two a quarter of an hour later. 

The Robins halved the arrears just before the break, Fabio Saraiva getting a goal back, but that was as good as it got for the visitors- and a win for Cray Valley at Lewes meant that they them slipped into the bottom four.